Methods of and apparatus for feeding, testing, and sorting articles

ABSTRACT

An article, such as a magnetically leaded device, can be carried by a carrier wheel from an input position to a testing location where the article is tested and classified into one of a plurality of categories in accordance with the test. The characteristics of a test, for each category, are stored in a corresponding shift register. The carrier wheel transports the articles past a number of force-field producing elements such as electromagnets which are activated by the corresponding outputs of the shift registers. Activation of an elements removes the proximate article from the wheel so that it falls into an appropriate output chute into an output bin corresponding to the tested category.

I Umted States Patent wl 3,581,889

[72] Inventors Bruce (.Abraham |5o| References(ited Reading; I -11 en 81ATFS PA TENTS g 'l tz f ij fi anf 2.bl7.52 ll/l952 Smith 209/8l(X) i8450,25 9 61969 w lt. 209 74 [2!] ApplNo 846,110 a 7 [22] Filed July 30,1969 Primary Examiner-Richard A Schacher [45] Patented [73] AssigneeJune 1, 197 I Western Electric Company, Incorporated New York, N.Y.

[54] METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING,

TESTING, AND SORTING ARTICLES 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs. 7

[52] US. Cl 209/74, 209/81 [51 Int. Cl B07c 5/00 [50] Field of Search209/74, 81,

ASSISHZHI Examiner-Gene A Church Attorneys-H .l Winegar.R P Miller andR.Y.Peters ABSTRACT: An article, such as a magnetically leaded device,can be carried by a carrier wheel from an input position to a testinglocation where the article is tested and classified into one of aplurality of categories in accordance with the test. The characteristicsof a test, for each category, are stored in a corresponding shiftregister. The carrier wheel transports the articles past a number offorce-field producing elements such as electromagnets which areactivated by the corresponding outputs of the shift registers.Activation of an elements removes the proximate article from the wheelso that it falls into an appropriate output chute into an output bincorresponding to the tested category.

PATENTEDJUN 1m Y 3581.889 V sum Mr 3 START STOP TEST STAR MOTOR CONTROL8| TEST SET 4 COMPLETE 5 COMMAND N"l COMMAND METHODS OF AND APPARATUSFOR FEEDING, TESTING, AND SORTllNG ARTKCLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to improvements in the feeding, testing, andsorting of articles. In particular, the invention is directed to thefeeding, testing, and sorting of devices having a body and opposed axialleads, for example: semiconductor diodes, resistors, capacitors, and thelike. Accordingly, the general objects of the invention are to providenew and improved apparatus and methods of such character.

it is desired, generally, to test a number of articles in accordancewith certain characteristics thereof and to sort or segregate thosehaving similar characteristics. For example, it may be desirable to sorta plurality of diodes so that, in one category, good diodes come withina 2 percent variation from a nominal value; in a second category, gooddiodes differ from the nominal value by l percent; and, in a thirdcategory, all

remaining diodes, good and bad.

Techniques, which were suggested by the prior art, for feeding, testing,and sorting articles either lack versatility or are too slow for presentday high-speed, high-volume production requirements.

In US. Pat. No. 2,183,606, to Day, issued Dec. I9, I939, article sortingis described, wherein articles, such a continuous inflow of beans, areplaced from a large reservoir into a hopper. Asuction carrier wheelcooperates with the hopper and forms a closure for the arcuate opendelivery mouth thereof. The beans seat themselves one by one on asuction socket and emerge carried on the periphery of the wheel from alimited delivery opening. The beans that are carried by the wheel areboth good and bad, the demarcation between good and bad being determinedby color. The test of relative goodness is made between each beanprogressively carried by the wheel and a standard or bogey bean mountedstationary on a suitable support in proper relation to an opticalsystem. When one of the beans being carried by the suction wheel fortest does not match up to the standard bean within the desired limits, akicker lever of an electrically operated discharge mechanism throws itoff its suction seat and causes it to fall over a discard barrier.Standard beans seated on the suction seats pass through a notch of thisbarrier and are stripped from their suction sockets by a stripper tofall into a bag.

In a copending US. Pat. application by .l. E. Beroset and D. M. Large,Ser. No. 763,860, filed Sept. 30, I968, and assigned to the assignee ofthis application, there is disclosed a magnetic storage bin in which aplurality of elongated magnetic articles, such as diodes, are suspendedin the bin and are caused to migrate toward the front of the bin due toa variable flux density along the length thereof. A rotary membercommunicates with the input bin so as to attract and hold the articlesthereon. The articles are subsequently tested and stripped from themember by known means.

Others in the art have suggested the removal of articles from turretmechanisms by various techniques, such as by stripping, by cam operatedmechanisms, and by utilization of solenoid actuated ejectors. However,prior art techniques including cams and solenoid actuated ejectingmechanisms are slow, and hence, the maximum rate of a feed, test, andsort operation is severely limited due to the mechanical response, orinertia, of such mechanisms. Furthermore, mechanical ejectors aresubject to undue wear, requiring frequent maintenance.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide novel methodsand apparatus for quickly feeding, testing, and sorting articles.Another object of this invention is to provide novel methods andapparatus for rapidly feeding, testing, and sorting leaded devices intoa plurality of different categories.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one embodiment of thisinvention, a carrier wheel holds a number of articles spaced about itsperiphery. The articles are tested, one at a time, at a test position inproximity with the periphery of the wheel, so that a tested article isclassified in one of a plurality of different categories. The wheel isindexed at the rate of one article at a time. At least one force-fieldproducing element such as an electromagnet in proximity to the peripheryof the wheel, and spaced about the circumference thereof, removes atested article therefrom when energized. A memory, which stores theclassifications of the tested articles, is coupled to energize theelement to remove articles classified in a given category to acorresponding element.

In a preferred embodiment, the carrier wheel is oriented for rotationabout a center axis aligned at an angle of 30 to 75 to the horizontalplane. In another embodiment, a quantity of force-field producingelements are used, one less in number than the plurality of differentcategories, together with mechanical stripping means in cooperation withthe wheel for stripping held tested articles off the wheel which werenot otherwise removed by the elements.

In accordance with a more specific embodiment of the invention, astationary magnetic input bin holds a number of magnetically leadeddevices having a body and opposed axial leads. The bin substantiallysupports each of the devices along axes parallel to each other, the axesbeing oriented at an angle lying between 30 and 75 with the horizontalplane. An opaque drumlike member, in cooperating relationship with thebin and having a circumferential periphery and opposed ends, isrotatable about an axis parallel to the parallel axes. The drumlikemember includes a plurality of pairs of permanent magnets for attractingand holding the leaded devices. The magnets are imbedded in the memberand are equally spaced about the periphery thereof, the two magnets ofeach pair being aligned with their radially extending poles orientedalong a line parallel to the parallel axes. The radially extending polesof each pair of magnets are of opposite polarity. Each pair of permanentmagnets has associated therewith, on the periphery of the drumlikemember, a grooved lead retaining and orienting configuration formaintaining held devices in parallel alignment with the parallel axes.Light transmitting passageways, equal in number to and respectivelyassociated with the pairs of magnets, are provided through the drumlikemember, from end to end, parallel to the axes. The passageways areoriented on a circular locus having a center which coincides with theaxis of rotation of the member.

A light photocell system, associated with the drumlike member andcooperating with the light transmitting passageways, is coupled in sucha manner to stop the rotation of the member when light passestherethrough.

A test set, for testing the leaded devices, is coupled to a pair ofpower probe leads and a pair of test probe leads which are maintained atan associated test position for engaging a leaded device therewith. Thetest set initiates testing upon receipt of a test start signal, which isgenerated following the passage of light through one of the passageways,and provides an output bin command" signal upon an appropriate outputthereof and a test complete signal upon completion of testing of eachdevice.

A pulse generator provides a shift signal to each of a plurality ofshift registers upon the receipt of the test complete signal. The numberof shift registers corresponds in number to the appropriate outputs ofthe test set, wherein each of the registers has a different number ofstages. The test complete" signal is coupled to cause the drumlikemember to commence rotation.

A plurality of output bins, and associated output chutes, are provided,corresponding in number to the appropriate outputs of the test set. Anelectromagnet, in cooperating relationship with each chute, is orientedin proximity to the periphery of the drumlike member. Each electromagnethas a axis parallel to the parallel axes and, when energized, removesits proximate device from that member so that it falls through theassociated chute into the proper bin.

A number of two-input AND gates, one for each electromagnet, is providedhaving the output of each gate coupled to its correspondingelectromagnet. One input of each gate is activated in response to thelight and photocell system when light passes through one of thepassageways. The other inputs are coupled to corresponding outputs ofthe shift registers.

A stationary stripping device, which cooperates with the groovedconfiguration, strips the held tested devices off the drumlike memberwhich were not otherwise removed by one of the electromagnets so thatthey fall through a separate output chute into an additional output bin.

In addition, airflow is directed in a downwardly direction and parallelto the axes, between the member and the electromagnets, for assistingthe removal of tested devices from the member.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method forfeeding, testing, and sorting articles includes carrying a number of thearticles about an arcuate path. One article is tested at a time, at onelocation about the path, so that the tested article is classified intoone of a plurality of different categories. The classifications of thetested articles are stored and the tested articles are removed from thepath, at a like plurality of positions therealong, in accordance withthe stored classifications of the tested articles.

More specifically, in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention, a number of magnetically leaded devices are suspended at aninput location along axes substantially parallel to each other, the axesbeing oriented at an angle lying between 30 and 75 with the horizontalplane. The devices are transported from the input location through acircular are having a center axis parallel to the parallel axes, whilemaintaining the transported devices in a parallel alignment with theaforesaid axes. The devices are tested one at a time, at a test positionin proximity with the circular arc. The tested articles areelectromagnetically removed from the path at a plurality of positionstherealong in accordance with characteristics of the test. The removedarticles are deposited onto output chutes, aligned with the axes, sothat the removed articles travel therealong due to the incline of thechutes with the horizontal plane. A flow of air is directed downwardlyparallel to the axes, and tangential to the are, for assisting theremoval of tested articles from the path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, advantages and featuresof the invention will be apparent from the following detaileddescription of a specific embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunctionwith the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a cabinet which contains apparatus inaccordance with a specific embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the apparatus taken along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the apparatus, partly in cross section,taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the apparatus taken along the line 5-5 ofFIG. .4;

FIG. 6 includes a view of an electromagnet, including its associatedwindings and housing, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an electrical block diagram of a specific embodiment of thisinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The operation and construction of a specificembodiment of this invention will be more fully understood from thefollowing description of the various component parts.

THE CABINET Referring to the drawings, especially FIGS. 1 and 2, thereis shown a cabinet 10 (not to scale) for housing a specific embodimentof this invention. A sliding door 11 on the cabinet 10 provides for aconvenient opening to enable an operator to place paramagneticallyleaded articles 12 into an input bin (FIG. 3). After the articles 12 aretested, they are sorted into a plurality of output bins 14, 15, 16, 17,18, and 19 located at the bottom of the cabinet (FIG. 2).

Various elements of the embodiment described involve various axes beingparallel to each other and at an angle of 30 to (preferably, 45) withthe horizontal plane. Hence, the view of FIG. 3 is taken, looking intothe cabinet of FIG. 1 along a 45 angle, whereby the FIG. 3 view presentsvarious components ofthe apparatus orthogonally displayed.

MAGNETIC INPUT BIN Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of magneticallyleaded devices 12, such as diodes having a body and two opposed axialmagnetic leads, are placed by an operator between the opposed magneticwalls 21-21 of the input magnetic bin 13. The devices 12 are suspendedin parallel fashion between the walls 21-21 of the magnetic bin 13, eachsuspended device repelling its adjacent device so that they do notintertwine.

Preferably, the input magnetic bin 13 has magnetic properties such thatthe devices tend to congregate at one end of the bin, for example, atthe right end as viewed in FIG. 3. Such properties can be produced byproviding a tapered magnetic field along the length of the magnetic bin,such as, for example, described in the aforesaid copending applicationby J. E. Beroset and D. M. Large.

Elongated magnets, not shown, within the walls 21-21 can be supported sothat they are closer to each other at the right end of the bin 13,nearest to a magnetic drumlike member 22. Consequently, the diodes tendto congregate near that end of the bin 13 where the magnetic filed isstrongest and against the drumlike member 22.

The devices 12 are magnetically suspended between the walls 21-21 of themagnetic input bin 13 at an angle of 45 with horizontal plane.

MAGNETIC DRUMLIKE MEMBER The magnetic drumlike member 22, shown in FIGS.3 and 4, acts as a carrier wheel, and rotates about an axis parallel tothe axis of the suspended magnetic devices 12, at an angle of 45 withthe horizontal plane. The drumlike member 22 is directly fixed to theshaft of a stepping motor 23 for indexing the member 22 one position ata time.

The drumlike member 22 includes a plurality of pairs of magnets 24a, 24bequally spaced about the periphery thereof. The magnets are imbeddedinto the drumlike member 22 so that their radially extending poles arerecessed from the peripheral surface of the member 22 by a shortdistance, such as 0.030 inch, so that the magnets 24a, 24b, per se, donot physically contact the leads of the devices 12.

The radially extending poles of the two magnets of each pair are ofopposite polarity so that they more effectively attract a leaded device12 from the input bin 13.

Associated with each pair of magnets 24a, 24b about the drumlike member22 are grooved lead retaining and orienting means" to assure that adevice 12, picked up and held by the magnets, is oriented parallel tothe aforesaid axes at an angle of 45 with the horizontal plane.

A grooved lead retaining and orienting means, in a preferred embodiment,includes four raistl rings 26, 27, 28, 29 around the circumference ofthe drumlike member 22. The raised rings 26, 27, 28, 29 have notches31-31 cut in them at spaced intervals around the circum erence of thedrumlike member 22. The magnets 24a, 24b are positioned between thepairs of rings 26, 27, and 28, 29, respectively, and are aligned withthe notches 3I-3l. The circumferential recesses, between the raisedrings 26, 27, and 28, 29, are provided to enable the devices 12 to bemechanically stripped from the drumlike member 22 as describedhereinafter.

The drumlike member 22 is provided with a plurality of lighttransmitting passageways, such as holes 32, in a circular locus throughthe ends of the member. These holes 32, optionally, can be filled with alight transmitting material to provide for increased rigidity of thedrumlike member 22.

THE STEPPING MOTOR The stepping motor 23, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, isdirectly coupled to the shaft of the magnetic drumlike member 22 forindexing the member 22 one index position at a time. The stepping motor23 may include a synchronous induction motor such as that described inan article entitled, Characteristics of a Synchronous Induction Motor"printed in applications and Industry, published by American Institute ofElectrical Engineers, Mar. 1962. A stepping motor suitable forincorporation into the embodiment described, capable of stepping 200times per revolution, is available under the trade designation SLO-SYNfrom the Superior Electric Company, Bristol, Connecticut.

LIGHT AND PHOTOCELL SENSING SYSTEM As shown in FIG. 4, a light andphotocell sensor 33 is mechanically affixed to the frame 34 by a bridgeconnecting arm 36 so that the light and photocell sensor 33 is incooperating relationship with the holes 32 on the drumlike member 22.

THE ELECTROMAGNETS A plurality of electromagnets 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 arespaced about the periphery of the drumlike member 22 as shown in FIG. 5.The windings 46 of each electromagnet (41, for example) are maintainedin an individual housing 47, as shown in FIG. 5, so that, whenenergized, the magnetic flux of an individual electromagnet is directedalong a preferred orientation, generating an attractive force directedtoward the device 12 which is in proximate relation thereto. Thosedevices, which are supported on the drumlike member 22 and angularlydisplaced from an energized electromagnet, are unaffected by the limitedmagnetic field generated by an energized electromagnet.

The housing 47, for each electromagnet, has formed, along the sideclosest to the magnetic drumlike member 22 a grooved, curved path 48formed from a low friction material, such as polytetrafloroethylene.Other materials, such as a low friction ceramic, can be used. The curvedpath 48, which forms a part of an output chute, is maintained at anaxis, parallel to the other axes, of 45 with the horizontal plane.

In the embodiment described, a plurality of electromagnets iscontemplated. In one operative embodiment, five electromagnets 41-45 aredisplaced about the periphery of the drumlike member 22, each beingspaced one index position away from another.

THE TEST POSITION The devices 12 are tested at a test position locatedin association with the drumlike member 22 prior to the tested devicereaching any of the electromagnets. In the preferred embodiment, thedevices are tested at one index position prior to the leadingelectromagnet 41.

Power is provided from a test set 51 to two power leads 52-52. The twopower leads 52-52 are electrical wiping cams (see FIG. 5) which arespring 53 biased against the insulating surface of the drumlike member22, and come into contact with the two opposed leads of a device 12 whenit is in the test position.

Similarly, a pair of test leads 54-54, which are formed of spring biasedcamming members, are coupled to communicate with the two opposed leadsof the device 12 when it is in the test position. Hence, when a deviceis in the test position, power can be applied through the device by thetwo power opposed leads 52-52 and test readings from the device 12 canbe obtained via the test probes 54-54. When a device 12 is not in thetest position, either during an intermediate position-or in the absenceof a device held by a pair of magnets-the power leads 52-52 and the testleads 54-54 are insulated from one another.

MECHANICAL STRIPPER OUTPUT BINS As stated above, the output bins 14-19,as shown in FIG. 2, are oriented at the bottom of the cabinet 10. Theseoutput bins 14-19, in accordance with a preferred embodiment constructedby the inventors, are six in number. The bins 14-19 are, preferably,magnetic bins for supporting tested devices in a manner similar to theinput bin 13 described hereinabove.

OUTPUT CHUTES Output chutes 55, 59, 60, 61, 62 are coupled to theelectromagnets 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, respectively, FIGS. 4 and 5, toprovide a path to the output bins 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, respectively, FIG.2, so that a tested device may pass along a chute to the appropriateoutput bin. A separate output chute 63 communicates with the leafsprings 56 of the stripping mechanism to direct devices 12 to theappropriate output bin 19.

An air manifold 64 behind the electromagnets 41-45 is provided withnozzles 66-70, respectively, for directing a constant stream of airtowards the magnetic drumlike member 22 downwardly at a 45 angle withthe horizontal plane along the curved paths 48 of the electromagnethousings 47. The airflow ensures that devices 12 that are picked off byan electromagnet from the drumlike member 22 are guided along theappropriate output chute to the output bin. In the absence of anairflow, a device which was attracted by an electromagnet may tend tobounce, upon deenergization of the electromagnet, and be reattracted bythe permanent magnets 24a, 24b on the drumlike member 22. Anotheradvantage of the airflow is that higher speeds are obtainable byensuring that a tested device 12 is directed out of the way so that asubsequent tested device 12 can be readily removed from the drumlikemember 22.

THE TEST SET The test set 51 tests each device 12 on the drumlike member22 for various characteristics. For example, it may test whether aparticular device 12 is within 2 percent of a nominal value, whether thedevice is within 10 percent of a nominal value, whether it is within 20percent of a nominal value, whether it has one particular type ofelectrical fault, whether it has another particular type of electricalfault, and the like. The test set 51 upon a control signal, such as atest start" pulse, initiates the testing of a device 12. The test set 51upon the completion of the testing automatically generates two signals.One signal is generated on a 13st complete line 71 and the second signalis generated on one of the five bin command lines 72, 73, 74, '75, 76.Thus, for example, if a test set 51 determines that a device 12 shotldbe categorized in a third of the five categories, a signal is generatedboth on the test complete line 71 and on the bin number three commandline 74.

OPERATION In operation, devices 12, such as axially magnetically leadeddiodes, are loaded into the magnetic storage bin 13 (FIG. 3) and,because of the characteristics of the magnetic walls 21-21 in the bin13, work themselves against the drumlike member 22 which is rotated bythe stepping motor 23. Since the diodes are bearing against the drumlikemember 22, they are caught by the notches 31-31 in the raised rings26-29 of the member 22 and held there by the permanent magnets 24a, 24b.A set of notches 3l3l accommodates only one diode at a time and,therefore, each set of notches 31-31 contains but one diode as thedrumlike member 22 is stepped around.

The operation of the embodiment will be more fully understood inconjunction with the electrical block diagram, shown in FIG. 7.

As the drumlike member 22 rotates to an index position, light passesfrom the lamp 33a through a light transmitting passageway 32 (alignedwith a set of notches 31-31) on the member 22 to the photoelectric cell33b, stopping the drumlike member 22 in the proper position, andinitiating the test. Completion of the test starts the stepping motor23, and, indexes the drumlike member 22, the next device stopping inposition for test as determined, again, by the alignment of the lighttransmitting passageway 32 with the lamp photocell detection system 33.

Light received by the cell 33b is converted into electric current, andamplified at an amplifier 33c. The output of the amplifier 330 iscoupled to three pulse generators 77, 78, 79 which may be, for example,one-shot multivibrators. A pulse from the pulse generator 77 is coupledto a motor control 81 to stop the motor 23 so that the drumlike member22 is held fixed in position. A pulse from the generator 78 passesthrough a fixed delay 82, to ensure that the drumlike member 22 hasreached a steady rest state, to provide the "test start signal to thetest set 51.

As the drumlike member 22 rotates, the devices are carried past thecontacts 52-52 and 5454 where a test is made. The results of the testare applied to a memory bank of shift registers 84, 85, 86, 87, 88which, in turn, select the electromagnet to be operated in accordancewith the results of the test. The test set 51 has its five bin commandlines 72-76 each coupled, respectively, to the set inputs 53 of the fivedifferent shift registers 8488. Each shift register 84, 85,86, 87, 88has a different number of stages.

In the preferred embodiment, wherein each electromagnet 4l45 isdisplaced one index position from another, the first one being locatedone index position past the test position, the five shift registers84-438 have one, two, three, four, and five stages, respectively (FIG.7).

The test complete" signal from the test set 51 is coupled on the line 71to a pair of pulse generators 89, 90. The output of the pulse generator89 is coupled to the motor control 81 to start the motor 23, so that thedrumlike member 22 can be indexed to a subsequent position. The outputof the pulse generator 90 is coupled to shift each of the five shiftregisters 84-88.

Each of the shift registers 8488 is designed so that upon theapplication ofa set signal to the input of one of the shift registers onits bin command line, together with a shift signal from the pulsegenerator 90, the signal on the bin command line is stored into thefirst stage of the shift register. Upon subsequent pulses from the pulsegenerator 90, which produces the shift signal, the state that is storedin the first stage of a shift register is shifted, one at a time, tosubsequent states of the shift register.

The output of the last stage of a shift register 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 iscoupled to one input of a corresponding two-input AND gate 91, 92, 93,94, 95. The output of the pulse generator 79 is coupled to the secondinput of all the gates 9l95. The output of each gate 91, 92, 93, 94, 95is coupled to its corresponding electromagnet 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.

At a subsequent index position, light passes from the lamp 330 throughthe drumlike member 22 to the photoelectric cell 33b, activating theappropriate AND gate and energizing the corresponding electromagnet. Theelectromagnet, when energized, picks off the tested device 12 from thedrumlike member 22 and deposits it into the grooved path 48 of theelectromagnet housing 47. The device 12, assisted by the airflow, isdirected along the output chute to the appropriate output bin.

Operation of an electromagnet causes it to pull the selected device fromthe notches 31-31 in the drumlike member 22 toward the correspondingoutput chute 58-62. The output chutes 5862 are maintained at an angle tothe horizontal so that the devices which are tested and pulled from themember into the chutes do not remain there but slide into the properoutput bin in accordance with the test.

The following sequence of operations, generally, takes place: Thecarrier wheel has stopped and the test set has completed the test of adevice 12, issuing a bin command signal" and a test complete signal. Ashift pulse is generated and the motor 23 is started. The wheel 22 movesand blocks light to the photocell 33b. Subsequently, the shift registers84, 85, 86, 87, 88 shift, storing the information for the bin to whichthe tested device 12 is to be placed. The photocell 33b sees light andsubsequently generates a start test" pulse via the delay 82. A magnetpulse is generated by the generator 79 to the gates 91-95 and the motor23 is stopped. The device is electromagnetically removed from the wheelinto the proper chute to the corresponding output bin. The test startpulse is then generated, permitting testing to take place, and the cycleis renewed.

In one embodiment, wherein a number of various electrical tests areperformed, an operating speed of about 25,000 units per hour isachieved. However, with fewer electrical tests, having shorter testdurations, speeds as high as 90,000 units per hour can be obtained.

ln a specific embodiment, the electromagnets 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 arepositioned about three-sixteenths of an inch away from the drumlikemember 22.

By using electromagnets for removing devices from a carrier wheel, veryfast speeds are obtainable.

The only moving or wearing parts of any significance, in the embodimentdescribed, is that of the motor 23 which is directly coupled by its axisto the drumlike member 22, and the test and probe camming leads whichmake contact with the device leads (which contacts, however, areself-cleaning against the peripheral surface of the drumlike member and,due to the spring bias, are continually self-adjusting). Hence, wear andmaintenance of the embodiment described is substantially reduced overany of the known comparable prior art apparatus.

It is within the skill of the art to perform various modifications tothe apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention. For example, in lieu of a rigid magnetic drumlike member, aflexible belt could be used.

A method of operation as set forth above can be performed by variousmeans, including, in part, manually, wherein a device could be manuallymoved about an are from a suspended position, tested, and removed by alocalized force field from a position on the arc, and deposited into anoutput chute. Although the manual transportation of a device about anarcuate path is not the preferred mode contemplated by the inventors, itwill be recognized that it falls within the scope of the invention ascontemplated.

What We Claim is:

1. Apparatus for feeding, testing, and soring articles, comprising:

a. a carrier wheel for holding a number of said articles spaced aboutits periphery; means for testing one article at a time, at a testposition in proximity with the periphery of said wheel, so that thetested article is classified in one of a plurality of differentcategories;

. means for indexing said wheel, at a rate of one article at a time, tosaid testing means;

. memory means coupled to said testing means for storing theclassifications of tested articles;

. at least one force-field producing means in proximity to the peripheryof said wheel, and spaced about the circumference thereof, for removingan article therefrom when energized; and

f. means coupling said memory means to said force-field producing meansfor energizing such means to remove articles classified in agivencategory by the corresponding force-field producing means.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said carrier wheel isoriented for rotation about a center axis aligned at an angle of 30 to75 with the horizontal plane.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein element (e) includes aquantity of force-field producing means, one less in amount ofcategories than said plurality; said apparatus further comprising:

g. mechanical stripping means, in cooperation with said wheel, forstripping held tested articles off said wheel which were not otherwiseremoved.

4. Apparatus for feeding, testing, and sorting articles, comprising:

a. a drum for holding a number of said articles, equally spaced aboutits periphery;

b. means for testing one article at a time, at a test position inproximity with the periphery of said drum, so that the tested article isclassified in one of a plurality of different categories;

c. means for indexing said drum, at a rate of one article at a time, tosaid testing means;

d. a like plurality of shift registers, each of said shift registershaving a different number of stages;

e. means coupling said testing means to said shift registers for storingthe tested classification of a tested article into the correspondingregister;

f. means for shifting the registers upon the indexing of the drum;

g. a like plurality of force-field producing means in proximity to theperiphery of said drum, spaced about the circumference thereof, forremoving an article therefrom when energized; and

h. means coupling the outputs of the shift registers to thecorresponding force-field producing means for activation thereof.

5. Apparatus for feeding, testing, and sorting magnetically leadeddevices, comprising;

a. a stationary magnetic input bin for holding a number of magneticallyleaded devices, said bin being adapted to substantially support each ofsaid devices along axes parallel to each other, said axes being orientedat an angle lying between 30 and 75 with the horizontal plane;

b. a drumlike member in cooperating relationship with said bin, beingrotatable about an axis parallel to said parallel axes, and havingmagnetic means disposed about the circumferent ial periphery thereof formaintaining held devices in parallel alignment with said axes;

. means for rotating said member; means for testing one device at a timeon the member;

e. a plurality of output chutes having a low coefficient of friction;

f. an electromagnet associated with each said chute, in proximity to theperiphery of said member, each electromagnet having an axis parallel tosaid parallel axes; and

g. means coupling said testing means to said electromagnets foractivation thereof; whereby tested devices are electromagneticallyremoved from said member into appropriate output chutes, and are carriedtherealong due to the incline of the chutes with the horizontal plane.

6. Apparatus for feeding, testing, and sorting devices having a body andopposed axial magnetic leads, comprising:

a. a stationary magnetic input bin for holding a number ofparamagnetically leaded devices, said bin being adapted to substantiallysupport each of said number of devices along axes parallel to eachother, said axes being oriented at an acute angle lying between 30 and75 with the horizontal plane;

b. an opaque drumlike member in cooperating relationship with said binand having a circumferential periphery and opposed ends, and beingrotatable about an axis parallel to said parallel axes and having:

l. a plurality of pairs of permanent magnets, for attracting and holdingthe leaded devices, imbedded in said member and equally spaced about theperiphery of said member with the two magnets of each pair being alignedand having their radially extending poles oriented along a line parallelto said axes, the radially extending poles of each pair of magnets beingof opposite polarity;

2. grooved lead retaining and orienting means spaced along the peripheryof said member, and associated with each pair of permanent magnets, formaintaining held devices in parallel alignment with said axes; and

3. a like plurality of light transmitting passageways through saidmember from end to end and parallel to said axes, each of saidpassageways being oriented on a circular locus whose center coincideswith the axis of rotation of said member, each one of said passagewaysbeing associated with a corresponding pair of said magnets;

c. means for rotating said member intermittently;

d. a light and photocell system associated with said drumlike member incooperation with said light transmitting passageways;

e. means coupling said system'to said rotating means for stopping therotation of said member when light passes through one of saidpassageways;

f. means for rendering effective said rotating means to rotate uponreceipt of a shift" signal;

g. a pair of power probe leads, associated at a test position, forengagement with a leaded device held by a pair of said permanentmagnets;

h. a pair of test probe leads, associated at said test position, forengagement with the leaded device engaged by the power probe leads;

i. a test set for testing the leaded devices, coupled to said powerprobe leads and said test probe leads, said test set being operative toinitiate testing upon a test start signal and being adapted to providean output bin command" signal upon the appropriate output thereof and atest complete signal upon completion of testing of each device;

j. means coupled to said system for generating said test start signalwhen light passes through one of said passageways;

k. a plurality of shift registers corresponding in number to theappropriate outputs of said test set, each of said registers having adifferent number of stages;

1. pulse generating means for providing said shift signal to each ofsaid shift registers upon receipt of a test complete signal;

in. means coupling said test complete signal to said rendering means,for starting the rotation of said member;

n. a plurality of output bins corresponding in number to saidappropriate outputs of said test set;

0. an output chute associated with each of said output bins;

p. an electromagnet associated with each said chute in proximity to theperiphery of said member, each electromagnet having an axis parallel tosaid parallel axes, each electromagnet, when energized, being adapted toremove its proximate device from said member so that the removed devicefalls into the associated chute;

q. a plurality of two-input AND ga es corresponding in number to saidelectromagnets, wherein:

l. the output of each gate is coupled to its correspondingelectromagnet;

2. one input of each of said gates is activated in response to saidsystem when light passes through one of said passageways; and

3. the others of said inputs being coupled to corresponding outputs ofsaid shift registers;

r. an additional output chute;

s. an additional output bin coupled to said chute;

t. stationary stripping means, in cooperation with said grooved leadretaining and orienting means, for stripping held tested devices offsaid member which were not otherwise removed by one of saidelectromagnets, so that the stripped devices fall into the associatedadditional output chute; and

u. means for directing an airflow, in a downwardly direction andparallel to said axes, between said member and said electromagnets, forassisting the removal of tested devices from said member.

7. A method of feeding, testing, and sorting articles, comprising:

a. carrying a number of said articles about an arcuate path;

b. testing one article at a time, at one location about said arcuatepath, so that the tested article is classified into one of a pluralityof different categories;

c. storing the classifications of the tested articles; and

d. developing a localized force-field to remove the tested articles fromsaid path at a like plurality of positions along said path in accordancewith the stored classifications of the tested articles.

8. A method of feeding, testing, and sorting articles comprising:

a. carrying a number of said articles, equally spaced about an arcuatepath;

b. testing one article at a time, at a test position in proximity withsaid arcuate path, so that the tested article is elassified into one ofa plurality of different categories;

c. indexing the articles, one article at a time, past said testposition;

d. storing separately and dynamically the classification of the testedarticles for each category;

e. shifting the classifications that are dynamically stored upon theindexing of the articles; and

f. developing a localized force field to remove the tested articles fromsaid path at a like plurality of positions along said path in accordancewith the classifications that are dynamically stored.

9. A method of feeding, testing, and sorting magnetically leadeddevices, comprising:

a. suspending a number of magnetically leaded devices, at an inputlocation, along axes substantially parallel to each other, said axesbeing oriented at an angle lying between 30 and 75 with the horizontalplane;

b. transporting the devices at said input location about a circular arc,having a center axis parallel to said parallel axes, while maintainingthe transported devices in parallel alignment with said axes;

0. testing one device at a time, at a test position in proximity withthe circular arc;

d. electromagnetically removing the tested articles from said path at aplurality of positions along the path in accordance with thecharacteristics of the test; and

e. depositing the removed articles onto output chutes, aligned with saidaxes, so that the removed articles travel therealong due to the inclineof the chutes with the horizontal plane.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising:

f. directing a flow of air in a downwardly direction parallel to saidaxes, and tangential to said arc, for assisting the removal of testedarticles from said path.

1. Apparatus for feeding, testing, and sorting articles, comprising: a.a carrier wheel for holding a number of said articles spaced about itsperiphery; b. means for testing one article at a time, at a testposition in proximity with the periphery of said wheel, so that thetested article is classified in one of a plurality of differentcategories; c. means for indexing said wheel, at a rate of one articleat a time, to said testing means; d. memory means coupled to saidtesting means for storing the classifications of tested articles; e. atleast one force-field producing means in proximity to the periphery ofsaid wheel, and spaced about the circumference thereof, for removing anarticle therefrom when energized; and f. means coupling said memorymeans to said force-field producing means for energizing such means toremove articles classified in a given category by the correspondingforce-field producing means.
 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1wherein said carrier wheel is oriented for rotation about a center axisaligned at an angle of 30* to 75* with the horizontal plane.
 2. groovedlead retaining and orienting means spaced along the periphery of saidmember, and associated with each pair of permanent magnets, formaintaining held devices in parallel alignment with said axes; and 2.one input of each of said gates is activated in response to said systemwhen light passes through one of said passageways; and
 3. The apparatusas recited in claim 1 wherein element (e) includes a quantity offorce-field producing means, one less in amount of categories than saidplurality; said apparatus further comprising: g. mechanical strippingmeans, in cooperation with said wheel, for stripping held testedarticles off said wheel which were not otherwise removed.
 3. the othersof said inputs being coupled to corresponding outputs of said shiftregisters; r. an additional output chute; s. an additional output bincoupled to said chute; t. stationary stripping means, in cooperationwith said grooved lead retaining and orienting means, for stripping heldtested devices off said member which were not otherwise removed by oneof said electromagnets, so that the stripped devices fall into theassociated additional output chute; and u. means for directing anairflow, in a downwardly direction and parallel to said axes, betweensaid member and said electromagnets, for assisting the removal of testeddevices from said member.
 3. a like plurality of light transmittingpassageways through said member from end to end and parallel to saidaxes, each of said passageways being oriented on a circular locus whosecenter coincides with the axis of rotation of said member, each one ofsaid passageways being associated with a corresponding pair of saidmagnets; c. means for rotating said member intermittently; d. a lightand photocell system associated with said drumlike member in cooperationwith said light transmitting passageways; e. means coupling said systemto said rotating means for stopping the rotation of said member whenlight passes through one of said passageways; f. means for renderingeffective said rotating means to rotate upon receipt of a ''''shift''''signal; g. a pair of power probe leads, associated at a test position,for engagement with a leaded device held by a pair of said permanentmagnets; h. a pair of test probe leads, associated at said testposition, for engagement with the leaded device engaged by the powerprobe leads; i. a test set for testing the leaded devices, coupled tosaid power probe leads and said test probe leads, said test set beingoperative to initiate testing upon a ''''test start'''' signal and beingadapted to provide an ''''output bin command'''' signal upon theappropriate output thereof and a ''''test complete'''' signal uponcompletion of testing of each device; j. means coupled to said systemfor generating said ''''test start'''' signal when light passes throughone of said passageways; k. a plurality of shift registers correspondingin number to the appropriate outputs of said test set, each of saidregisters having a different number of stages; l. pulse generating meansfor providing said ''''shift'''' signal to each of said shift registersupon receipt of a ''''test complete'''' signal; m. means coupling said''''test complete'''' signal to said rendering means, for starting therotation of said member; n. a plurality of output bins corresponding innumber to said appropriate outputs of said test set; o. an output chuteassociated with each of said output bins; p. an electromagnet assOciatedwith each said chute in proximity to the periphery of said member, eachelectromagnet having an axis parallel to said parallel axes, eachelectromagnet, when energized, being adapted to remove its proximatedevice from said member so that the removed device falls into theassociated chute; q. a plurality of two-input AND gates corresponding innumber to said electromagnets, wherein:
 4. Apparatus for feeding,testing, and sorting articles, comprising: a. a drum for holding anumber of said articles, equally spaced about its periphery; b. meansfor testing one article at a time, at a test position in proximity withthe periphery of said drum, so that the tested article is classified inone of a plurality of different categories; c. means for indexing saiddrum, at a rate of one article at a time, to said testing means; d. alike plurality of shift registers, each of said shift registers having adifferent number of stages; e. means coupling said testing means to saidshift registers for storing the tested classification of a testedarticle into the corresponding register; f. means for shifting theregisters upon the indexing of the drum; g. a like plurality offorce-field producing means in proximity to the periphery of said drum,spaced about the circumference thereof, for removing an articletherefrom when energized; and h. means coupling the outputs of the shiftregisters to the corresponding force-field producing means foractivation thereof.
 5. Apparatus for feeding, testing, and sortingmagnetically leaded devices, comprising; a. a stationary magnetic inputbin for holding a number of magnetically leaded devices, said bin beingadapted to substantially support each of said devices along axesparallel to each other, said axes being oriented at an angle lyingbetween 30* and 75* with the horizontal plane; b. a drumlike member incooperating relationship with said bin, being rotatable about an axisparallel to said parallel axes, and having magnetic means disposed aboutthe circumferential periphery thereof for maintaining held devices inparallel alignment with said axes; c. means for rotating said member; d.means for testing one device at a time on the member; e. a plurality ofoutput chutes having a low coefficient of friction; f. an electromagnetassociated with each said chute, in proximity to the periphery of saidmember, each electromagnet having an axis parallel to said parallelaxes; and g. means coupling said testing means to said electromagnetsfor activation thereof; whereby tested devices are electromagneticallyremoved from said member into appropriate output chutes, and are carriedtherealong due to the incline of the chutes with the horizontal plane.6. Apparatus for feeding, testing, and sorting devices having a body andopposed axial magnetic leads, comprising: a. a stationary magnetic inputbin for holding a number of paramagnetically leaded devices, said binbeing adapted to substantially support each of said number of devicesalong axes parallel to each other, said axes being oriented at an acuteangle lying between 30* and 75* with the horizontal plane; b. an opaquedrumlike member in cooperating relationship with said bin and having acircumferential periphery and opposed ends, and being rotatable about anaxis parallel to said parallel axes and having:
 7. A method of feeding,testing, and sorting articles, comprising: a. carrying a number of saidarticles about an arcuate path; b. testing one article at a time, at onelocation about said arcuate path, so that the tested article isclassified into one of a plurality of different categories; c. storingthe classifications of the tested articles; and d. developing alocalized force-field to remove the tested articles from said path at alike plurality of positions along said path in accordance with thestored classifications of the tested articles.
 8. A method of feeding,testing, and sorting articles comprising: a. carrying a number of saidarticles, equally spaced about an arcuate path; b. testing one articleat a time, at a test position in proximity with said arcuate path, sothat the tested article is classified into one of a plurality ofdifferent categories; c. indexing the articles, one article at a time,past said test position; d. storing separately and dynamically theclassification of the tested articles for each category; e. shifting theclassifications that are dynamically stored upon the indexing of thearticles; and f. developing a localized force field to remove the testedarticles from said path at a like plurality of positions along said pathin accordance with the classifications that are dynamically stored.
 9. Amethod of feeding, testing, and sorting magnetically leaded devices,comprising: a. suspending a number of magnetically leaded devices, at aninput location, along axes substantially parallel to each other, saidaxes being oriented at an angle lying between 30* and 75* with thehorizontal plane; b. transporting the devices at said input locationabout a circular arc, having a center axis parallel to said parallelaxes, while maintaining the transported devices in parallel alignmentwith said axes; c. testing one device at a time, at a test position inproximity with the circular arc; d. electromagnetically removing thetested articles from said path at a plurality of positions along thepath in accordance with the characteristics of the test; and e.depositing the removed articles onto output chutes, aligned with saidaxes, so that the removed articles travel therealong due to the inclineof the chutes with the horizontal plane.
 10. The method as recited inclaim 9 further comprising: f. directing a flow of air in a downwardlydirection parallel to said axes, and tangential to said arc, forassisting the removal of tested articles from said path.